CHARLESTON, S.C. (Dec. 12, 2014) – The Lennar Coastal Carolinas Division, many of its supply vendors and national nonprofit Operation Homefront are partnering this holiday season to provide nearly $80,000 in renovations and upgrades at the family home of a disabled James Island veteran.
The effort is envisioned as the first in an occasional collaborative series that would see the local office of Miami-based Lennar help battle-wounded troops – and the initial beneficiary is most deserving.
Staff NCO Scott Petrie was a member of an ultra-elite U.S. Marine Corps special operations unit ambushed in Afghanistan in 2009. Petrie suffered severe injuries during the surprise attack, including serious nerve damage in his legs and feet caused by a trio of gunshot wounds, widespread burns and extensive damage to his left arm. In the aftermath, he was forced to retire from the Corps and today walks with a cane.
“It has been a long fight,” Petrie said. “Skin grafts, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgeries, rehab, the PTSD side of things. From that point of view, it’s been tough.”
Petrie and his wife, Tiffany, were married shortly before the deployment that nearly claimed Scott’s life. Upon his return, Scott was told he would be unable to father children. Eventually the couple adopted Nino, now 8, and Lelani, now 7. Weeks after the adoptions were finalized, the Petries learned Tiffany was pregnant. The boy, Sawyer, is now 2-years-old.
The Petries had gone from 0 to 3 children in less than a year. And more good news: Tiffany is expecting another baby in January. Taken together with the family’s four large dogs – Tiffany was formerly a veterinary assistant – it’s quite a brood.
“That’s the blessing of all this,” Scott said. “We wouldn’t have this family any other way.”
The Petries moved to James Island in 2013 to be closer to Veterans Affairs care in Charleston. They were able to locate a great deal on a home and with help from a military assistance program divested themselves of a residence they owned in North Carolina.
But the multi-level James Island house they moved to, despite its spacious back yard and carriage house that the Petries eyed as a potential rehab area, was not the easiest for Scott to navigate. A gravel driveway was also tough for Scott to manage with a cane – but was about to change.
Lennar Coastal Carolinas Division President Jason Byham developed the idea for a new veterans outreach earlier this year and found a willing partner in Operation Homefront, a national veteran’s aid group.
“There’s a strong military presence in Charleston. You see these men and women at the grocery store or a ball game, and you know one day they could be laying it all on the line for us,” Byham said. “When they get injured in the line of duty, I think Lennar as a company and the larger community in general owe it to them to be there.”
Representatives from the Operation Homefront Carolinas office in Charlotte connected Lennar and the Petries. Now, after extensive planning, a new concrete driveway has been poured, new kid-friendly, laminate floors have been installed and more work is scheduled to begin soon.
“It’s been great to see this project come together,” said Darden Blow, Director of Programs with Operation Homefront Carolinas. “Our mission is to provide assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors, and this project does that.”
Further work on the Petrie’s home will include: conversion of the garage to a master suite with bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet; installation of a bathroom and shower in Scott’s rehab area; new cabinetry as part of a kitchen remodel; extensive landscaping; and new carpet in upstairs bedrooms.
All told, the project will total almost $80,000.
Participating vendors include: Simmons Construction Co., Carolina Foundations, Palmetto Electric, East Coast Wall System, Two Brothers Construction, Campbell Plumbing, Advanced Flooring & Design, Manale Landscaping, and Buy Sod.
“None of this would have been possible without our trade partners,” Byham said. “I really can’t thank them all enough for the contributions of materials, time and effort.
About Lennar
Building homes in 13 communities, the Lennar Coastal Carolinas division is one of the largest builders in the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas. Lennar offers affordable, move-up, and luxury homes and townhomes in communities that cater to almost any lifestyle in the Lowcountry. To learn more, visit www.Lennar.com or call (843) 514-8295.
About Operation Homefront
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 93 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.
